Arkansas’ Congressmen, Senators Sign Letters Opposing Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Arkansas’ four U.S. Congressmen and two U.S. Senators recently signed letters opposing efforts to pay for abortions with taxpayer funds.

The letters come as President Biden has rescinded U.S. policies preventing taxpayers from funding organizations that support abortion overseas and has recently made statements opposing the Hyde Amendment that prohibits taxpayer-funded abortion at home.

The letter that U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton signed says,

Abortion is not health care; rather, it is a brutal procedure that destroys the life of an innocent unborn child. The Hyde Amendment reflects a consensus that millions of pro-life Americans who are profoundly opposed to abortion should not be coerced into paying for it or incentivizing it with their taxpayer dollars.

U.S. Representatives Hill, Womack, Crawford, and Westerman joined with some 200 congressmen in signing a letter that says,

The Hyde Amendment alone has saved the lives of over 2 million innocent babies and continues to protect the conscience rights of a vast majority of Americans opposed to publicly funded abortions. We cannot allow the Hyde Amendment and other important pro-life safeguards to be decimated by Congressional Democrats. Accordingly, we pledge to vote against any government funding bill that eliminates or weakens the Hyde Amendment or other current-law, pro-life appropriations provisions.

Public opinion polling has shown again and again that Americans don’t want to pay for abortions with their tax dollars.

Without the Hyde Amendment, even if you don’t support abortion and you don’t have an abortion, you could still be forced to pay for an abortion with your taxes.

Fortunately, Arkansas’ congressional delegation is pushing back against efforts to fund abortions with public dollars.

Arkansas Senate Passes Bill Protecting Healthcare Professionals’ Rights of Conscience

Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) presents S.B. 289 from the floor of the Arkansas Senate on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 289 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro).

This good bill protects healthcare workers’ rights of conscience.

Arkansas’ current conscience protections are narrowly focused on abortion, abortifacients, and end of life decisions, and they protect only a limited number of people.

S.B. 289 helps broaden these protections for all healthcare professionals.

No one should have to worry about facing retaliation or discrimination for obeying their conscientious convictions.

Rights-of-conscience is a long-established tradition that predates the U.S. Constitution. This right should not be ignored.

S.B. 289 now goes to the Arkansas House, where it likely will be assigned to the House Public Health Committee.

Below is a breakdown of the Arkansas Senate’s vote on S.B. 289.

Voted for S.B. 289

  • B. Ballinger
  • Beckham
  • Bledsoe
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • B. Davis
  • J. Dismang
  • L. Eads
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • T. Garner
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • M. Johnson
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Pitsch
  • Rapert
  • Rice
  • B. Sample
  • G. Stubblefield
  • J. Sturch
  • D. Sullivan
  • Teague
  • D. Wallace

Voted Against S.B. 289

  • L. Chesterfield
  • Elliott
  • S. Flowers
  • K. Ingram
  • G. Leding
  • C. Tucker

Did Not Vote on S.B. 289

  • Irvin

Excused From the Vote

  • J. Hendren

Bill Declaring Religion is Essential Becomes Law in Arkansas

Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) presents H.B. 1211 to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives.

On Wednesday H.B. 1211 declaring religious organizations essential in Arkansas became Act 94 of 2021.

The measure is now in effect as a part of state law.

This good law by Representative Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Senator Kim Hammer (R – Benton) recognizes that religion and religious organizations are essential in Arkansas.

It helps protect churches and other religious organizations from being targeted, penalized, or discriminated against during a time of emergency.

Act 94 will help protect churches and religious groups from discrimination without hampering the government’s ability to respond to an emergency. 

See how your state representative voted on this measure here

See how your state senator voted on this measure here

Read Act 94 of 2021 Here.